Carpet-stretcher



AUNITED STATES JOHN BOYD, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

Speeication forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,545, dated December 19, 1865.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN BOYD, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massausetts, have invented a new and Improved carpet-Stretcher; and I do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side View ofmy carpet-stretcher. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

My invention consists in so constructing the handle of a carpet-stretcher that it can easily be extended in length to suit different persons, and when not in use can be closed and folded up, making a small and convenient article.

It also consists in the use of a serrated plate so arranged that it can be quickly adjusted as to depth of bearing-surface upon the carpet, as will be presently described.

To enable others to understand my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

The handle proper is iliade in two parts, A and B, the part A carrying a suitable top piece, H, for the body ofthe person using the device to bear against, and the part B carrying the head, which has secured to it the serrated plate for catching into the carpet. A long slot, (l, (see Fig. 2,) is eut longitudinally through the centers of these parts A and B, and a suitable guide-strip, a, left upon or attached along the inside of each slot in the direction ofthe length of the slot.

D D are the extension pieces or slides, and the edges of these are grooved out, so as to fit over the guides a and to enable the same to be properly guided as they are slid in and out.

Two thumb-screws, b, are applied in such manner that by tightening or screwing down the same the slides will be prevented from sliding and be held rigidly in place. These slides permit the lengthening of the handle of the device, in order to make it suit any person who may have occasion to use it, thus dispensing with the necessity of having several to suit ditferent persons. The slides are hinged or otherwise suitably connected together at their ends, as shown at c in Fig. 1, to allow of the handle being folded up.

E is the head of the device. This may be made ofany desirable length-say wideenough to extend across one width of carpet-and it' it be wide or very long suitable stay-rods or supports may be attached to it and to the handle on either side to strengthen it. To the lower edge ot' this head the plate F is attached. In the present instance it is inclined or at an angle with the head, and the head is beveled to prevent its being so placed. The plate is secured to the head, so as to be adjustable as to depth. Slots d, (see Fig. 2,) as many as desired, being cut through the plate, and setscrews or thuin b-screws c applied in such manner that by unscrewing the same the plate may be thrown out from or drawn in nearer to the head, to the better adapt it to the carpet, matting, rope-cloth, or other fabric being laid down upon the floor so as not tear the same.

It is evident, in laying dwn a coarse and thick fabric, the plate would be thrown farther' out, so as to enable the teethfto have a better hold on the fabric, and on the other hand that it would be drawn in when used to lay down a fine and thin carpet. This isa feature which no carpet-stretcher I have ever seen possesses.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the pieces H B with the hinged slide D D and the set-screws b b, arranged and operating substantially as described and represented.

JOHN BOYD.

Witnesses T. W. PRnssEY, A. S. DAVIS. 

